And this is no casual kickoff as Sacramento State does not resemble last season’s squad. This is a revamped team with 73 new players and a new coaching staff except for offensive line coach mainstay Kris Richardson. The school’s recruiting class was ranked the best in the FCS by multiple rankings services, and the overall haul includes 27 incoming freshmen, 10 junior college transfers and 37 four-year transfers via the transfer portal.

The host Jackrabbits have plenty to play for and prove, too, having won FCS national championships in 2022 and 2023. South Dakota State can relate to a new coaching staff and a roster full of new players. Jimmy Rogers after last season left to coach at Washington State, replaced by former Jackrabbits player Dan Jackson.

The entire coaching staff also headed to WSU, as did 16 South Dakota State players via transfer. Twenty-one players left the program overall, which happens when there is coaching turnover. So this sizes up to be something of the “Great Unknown Bowl,” pitting programs with new faces trying to get on the same page in a hurry.